March 27, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Jazz’s surreptitious plans to reduce their staffing levels in the ACS night cabins classification in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto have left the membership and the bargaining committee with many questions.
The company first raised the issue of merging day and night cabins back in October 2011 at the UMHQ, (a union/management meeting held quarterly, to discuss workplace issues). The company raised the issue of removing the separate work locations and merging the day and night locations to one schedule. At the next UMHQ in February, the company presented a formal plan for the proposed merger. Anticipating the negative impact of merged locations and no long term commitment to maintain full time work, the union informed the company that the proposal was not in the best interest of membership and that they would continue to follow the language of the current collective agreement.
"We didn’t want to go into any agreement blind,” commented Bargaining Committee Chairperson, Ken White. "We required full disclosure and that was not forthcoming.”
However, irrespective of the pertinent views and concerns raised by the committee, the company proceeded with the alternate plans to obtain their objective.
On March 15, it came to the union’s attention that the company had asked Leads to attend a private meeting in Vancouver. Although the company told the union that the meetings were about SOP- Standard Operating Procedures, it was divulged that JAZZ management were conducting layoff meetings. The bargaining committee should have been advised of the layoffs and impact to bases well in advance of any scheduled meetings and issuance of lay off packages; the union was not told the actual layoff numbers (42) until March 20, after the meetings had taken place.
The bargaining committee are working diligently to alleviate some of the stress that the company’s haphazard staff reductions have caused the membership. The union has requested a one week extension to the bumping deadline of April 3; the company would only extend the deadline to April 6. The company has also agreed to guarantee that members directly affected at each location will have the first opportunity to secure part time vacancies created before they go out system-wide on a Letter of Transfer (LOT). In addition, the committee has requested that union representation be available at the first preferential bid and to the company throughout the bumping process.
It is important to stay united and supportive of each other during these difficult times. The union is endeavouring to provide as much assistance and information as possible for our membership and have compiled the
attached question and answer document pertaining to layoffs. There are no easy answers. Please do not hesitate to contact your district chairperson or bargaining committee representative if you require further information.
In Solidarity,
Your Jazz ACS Bargaining Committee:
Huw Callard
Rob Pomanti
Ken White